Economic Profile

Springdale...An Economic Success

At the heart of the nation's eighth best performing region (February 2006 Milken Institute Report) is a city whose reputation is built on business and a strong economy. Springdale boasts Northwest Arkansas ' most diversified economy and the unofficial title as the area's most "business friendly" city.

This city of 65,000 provides Northwest Arkansas with a hard-working and well-paid workforce. With projections showing Springdale's population to be more than 90,000 by 2019, it's clear this fast-growing city will be a major player in the region's economy for years to come.

Springdale is known for its poultry industry but the city's business community offers so much more. As the region has grown, so has the city. More than 75 manufacturing plants are located here, producing a wide variety of products.

Trucking has been an important ingredient in the area's booming economy for many years. Northwest Arkansas' abundance of trucking firms is responsible for the state leading the nation in that category.

Retail is a strong and growing component of the city's economy as well. The Ozark Center Point Place, one of the largest retail centers in the region, draws nearly two million visitors a year to its shops near Interstate 540 on the city's western edge. The new Shoppes at Har-Ber Lakes and the Legacy Center shopping centers have jump-started expected growth in the vicinity of Springdale's $33 million Minor League Baseball stadium currently under construction. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Texas League will play Class-AA baseball in the park beginning in 2008.

Conventions and tourism are major players in the city's economy. The Northwest Arkansas Convention Center is the region's premiere convention and meeting facility. Groups have access to 49,000 square feet of meeting space with the ability to accommodate as many as 3,000 conventioneers.

Infrastructure has played a vital role in Springdale's economic health. Located at the intersection of the region's two most heavily traveled highways - I-540 and U.S. 412 - the city has benefited at every turn from advances and improvements to the area's infrastructure. Three major east-west corridors - at a cost of $105 million - are currently under construction and set to be complete by 2010. The vision of city planners to access and manage water from nearby Beaver Lake has also been a critical component in Springdale's growth. An abundance of quality water has kept the city at the forefront of economic growth in the region.

The 1998 opening of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in nearby Highfill is a perfect example of economic success for the area. The airport provides daily non-stop regional jet service by six airlines to Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Newark, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Cincinnati, Minneapolis/St. Paul, St. Louis, Houston, Denver, Detroit, Salt Lake City, Charlotte and Memphis. The airport has been a catalyst for increased commercial air travel for business and leisure.

Springdale has and continues to be seen as business friendly. Visionary entrepreneurs, a blue collar approach to business, abundant natural resources and a geographic location in the heart of the region combined with a thoughtful and sensible city government help make Springdale the region's economic pacesetter.